Microbes in Agriculture: Prospects and Constraints to Their Wider Adoption and Utilization in Nutrient-Poor Environments.

Microbes such as bacteria and fungi play important roles in nutrient cycling in soils, often leading to the bioavailability of metabolically important mineral elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). Examples of microbes with beneficial traits for plant growth promotion include mycorrhizal fungi, associative diazotrophs, and the N-fixing rhizobia belonging to the α, β and γ class of Proteobacteria. Mycorrhizal fungi generally contribute to increasing the surface area of soil-root interface for optimum nutrient uptake by plants.

Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N Fixation in Legume-Root-Microbe Associations in African Soils.

Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is the most important plant-microbe interaction in sustainable agriculture due to its ability to provide much needed N in cropping systems. This interaction is mediated by the mutual recognition of signaling molecules from the two partners, namely legumes and rhizobia. In legumes, these molecules are in the form of flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for the pigmentation of plant organs, such as seeds, flowers, fruits, and even leaves.

Bioprospecting for Rhizobacteria with the Ability to Enhance Drought Tolerance in .

is a multipurpose medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa that is used for the management of cancer, stomach ulcers, wounds, etc. The use and demand for the raw materials from this plant have been increasing steadily over the years, putting strain on the dwindling wild populations. Although cultivation may provide relief to the strained supply, the persistent drought climate poses a threat to the plant's growth and productivity.

Symbiotic Functioning and Photosynthetic Rates Induced by Rhizobia Associated with Jack Bean ( L.) Nodulation in Eswatini.

Improving the efficiency of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis in African soils for increased grain yield would require the use of highly effective strains capable of nodulating a wide range of legume plants. This study assessed the photosynthetic functioning, N fixation, relative symbiotic effectiveness (%RSE) and C assimilation of 22 jack bean ( L.) microsymbionts in Eswatini soils as a first step to identifying superior isolates for inoculant production.

Phylogeny and symbiotic effectiveness of indigenous rhizobial microsymbionts of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Malkerns, Eswatini.

In most legumes, the rhizobial symbionts exhibit diversity across different environments. Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the important legumes in southern Africa, there is no available information on the genetic diversity and N-fixing effectiveness of its symbionts in Malkerns, Eswatini.